Changing eating styles

Has anyone found that you have become more creative in your meals since starting your weight loss journeys?Do you find that foods you once craved are not as good as you remember them tasting?If you do have a favourite dish that was high in fat and bad carbs, have you tried to adapt the recipe to fit more into your current eating style?

I ask these questions because I am always trying to find something new to make, but with ingrediets I have used but now just using them in different ways.At one time there was nothing better then a big old bag of chips and high calorie and high fat dips. Now I can not even stand the smell of the dips and the chips all taste greasy to me.As for my favourite dish, it has always been lasagna. So I found a vegan way of making it that is pretty delish.

I am interested to read all the responses and how others feel about the changes they have made.

Yes, yes, and yes to all three questions! I have changed so many things with my meals and recipes and favorite foods. I figured out how to make a lot of our favorite dishes healthier and still taste great. There are some dishes that just don't taste as appealing in a lower fat/healthier version so I've learned to live without those foods. But with all of the new favorites I've discovered, I don't miss those foods at all.

I experimented by trying a lot of vegetarian inspired foods and have discovered I love veggie burgers, lentils, quinoa, beans, etc.

I stopped eating red meat, saturated fats, anything deep fried, and anything with dairy (because I discovered I'm sensitive to the protein in it). I used to love a big juicy steak, french fries, cheeseburgers, ice cream, cheesecake, etc. but those foods no longer appeal to me like they did before. And I discovered early on that anything greasy just doesn't sit well in my stomach anymore.

Making a slow overhaul on my diet has made the changes easier to take than a drastic shift. I know I can eat this way for the rest of my life and not feel I'm missing anything.

Yes, definately! My Cookbook on FS is full of recipes I've adapted, I discovered I enjoy things like fat free cottage cheese with local pear-Basil salsa (or any good salsa) in it; love sauteing an assortment of fresh veggies, adding fresh Basil and some asiago cheese; Yum!

Another creation; process a piece of my home made whole wheat flax into crumbs, finely grate a small zucchini; combine in a bowl with 1/2 cup egg substitute, 1 oz crumbled goat cheese, fresh snipped basil, mix well. Cook on medium in a large skillet sprayed with cooking spray; 4 pancakes (sort of like egg foo young with a twist). For a real treat I spread some edamame hummus on them.

I used to bake all the time; loved cookies & baked donuts made with whole wheat pastry flour. The last time I baked cookies was for a great neighbor who was moving away & I didn't even taste one (though my partner told me they were heavenly). I recently made a lightened version of a fruit crisp with fresh peaches, blueberries, and cherries. I did enjoy a small serving of it a couple times, fitting it into my diet without going over or sacrificing nutrition to fit it in. I'm just as happy with a small carton of pineapple Greek frozen yogurt for 'dessert'.

Yes i think re inventing your wheel does come into play. Most supermarket foods are high carbon and low protein so to offset it i make an omlette with ham bacon and mushroom which is low calorie low carbon and good protein. Roasted veg is good but make your own and avoid shop packs so you can measure and work out your calories etc and only use a tsp of good quality virgin olive oil. I've also dusted off a smoothie maker which was in the shed and found some good recipes on the internet. I seem to be making more meals from scratch which will be healthier and more than likely lower in calories.

It is truly awesome how when you change your eating habits your taste changes too! I used to love taco bell (gross I know) it tasted soo good to me though. But once I got healthy and completely gave up fast foods I have lost all desire to eat taco bell or any fast food! My cousin actually got taco bell the other day and she asked me if I wanted a bite, and I was so turned off by just the smell of it I had no interest! It felt great!

The other day I ate a fresh from the market tomato that was marinated in balsamic vinegar - then baked for 5 minutes and topped w/ sauteed spinach and garlic! OMG something that simple at it was so sweet it was my dessert!!

Not too far out for me, although I had to put that I was sedentary to get it right. It came out at 1400, and I would lose weight very slowly at that, but am mostly trying to do about 90% of RDI to lose ...

Yes Steel cut oats. They take longer to cook but are so worth it! Add a tablespoon of peanut butter and some berries for a protein boost and great flavour. You can also add a table spoon of maple syrup ...